University of Wisconsin President Ray Cross on Tuesday asked the Legislature's budget-writing committee to approve a new public authority for the UW System, a "dedicated and stable funding stream" and to reduce the governor's proposed $300 million budget cut over the next two years.

Shortly after he finished his testimony, a handful of protesters burst into the room shouting, "No cuts, no deals." Followed by four Capitol police officers, the protesters marched past the table where Cross was sitting to give testimony before the Joint Committee on Finance.

If Park Bank is liable for not spotting Sujata "Sue" Sachdeva's $34 million embezzlement from Koss Corp. and has to reimburse the company, Koss Chief Executive Michael Koss should also be ordered to personally pay the public company he runs, the bank argues in a new lawsuit.

Grant Thornton, Koss Corp.'s former auditor, should also have to pay a portion of any award that may be ordered, Park Bank argued in the latest twist in a long-running court fight stemming from Sachdeva's massive embezzlement.

"Park Bank denies any and all liability to Koss in this case," the bank said in its action. "Nevertheless, should Park Bank be found liable to Koss (Corp.) and required to pay damages to Koss, in this case, those damages will have been the result of a common liability of Park Bank, Michael Koss and Grant Thornton, thereby entitling Park Bank to (a) contribution from Michael Koss and Grant Thornton."(6)

Common Ground to new Bucks' owners: Don't forget us

Common Ground, the community organization promoting a campaign to dedicate public dollars for better outdoor athletic and recreational facilities throughout Milwaukee County, says it is pleased that prospective Milwaukee Bucks owners Wesley Edens and Marc Lasry have an interest in Milwaukee. »Read Full Blog Post

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Yes it is. The new arena will, by definition, spur business growth--which raises the total quality of life across the region.

Furthermore, at a time when other cities are begging for our team, these owners are offering $200 million (with Kohl) up front toward the facility.

Tying this facility (which will generate business) to Fair Play (which will generate nothing) IS GROSSLY IDIOTIC. You're talking about a completely unnecessary $200 million up front investment that will benefit everyone--Common Ground included--and yet these parasites demand more.

Jeez, this is the kind of thing that makes Seattle look awfully good...

Why does it not surprise me that the self-righteously entitled folks find any occasion a invitation to stick their hands out for anything but taking personal accountability?

The new owners of the Bucks are private investors with no obligation to provide financial support to the city. Milwaukee's choice is simple. Help fund the new arena to provide quality of life to their tax paying citizens or see the Bucks and businesses ;eave the community. In other words to see a far greater base of tax revenue depart than it would take to help the team remain financially solvent.

I read this to say the bill to taxpayers should include money that routed to other interests. Not that they plan to strong-arm the new owners of the Bucks into giving them $200 million in exchange for the 600 or so votes that they can provide.

With other cities begging for our team, these owners and Kohl pledge $200 million up front that they don't need to pledge at all. They could just walk. And yet, the Common Ground ingrates fail to see such investment in the local business community as beneficial to them until it comes in the form of direct handouts.

Incredible. I shutter to think what the current deficits and pension costs would be if these people still ran Wisconsin.

And lets not forget a 79 year old guy who loves this city and state still has at least $450 million more to do as he pleases with.I always said if I hit it big I'd give a major portion away. But none to people who beg for it.

That is not necessarily true. Herb Kohl made a great profit from the sale of the Milwaukee Bucks. However, after the initial 100 million dollar gift he gave for a new arena, he still needs to pay off loans from the Bradley Center as well as major debt he endured during the seasons in which the Bucks were not profitable and he had to take from his own pockets. The new CBA in the NBA will help the revenue sharing and keep the Bucks even in their worst seasons, a profitable team. So the number Kohl probably has left is likely to be a lot less than we think.

This is a great idea & I hope it gets some legs. This is what smaller cities like OKC did to get their arena deals through. Tie in overall community improvement w/ the centerpiece being a new state-of-the-art "entertainment venue" (it's not only for the Bucks). Money to schools, parks, roads, etc.... let's move the region forward, not backward.

The thing is that if this extra $200 million is added into the tab for a new arena, it will be even less likely that the outlying areas will want to fund it. There is already very strong opposition to taxpayer funding of a new arena in the surrounding counties and this will only entrench that opposition more deeply.

well then the outlying areas can be left out & fund their own community improvement. lots of people in those outlying areas have no problem making their money in milwaukee, but then run back to the suburbs & don't want to support the city. how about a gas tax then? or put up toll roads.... lol

Hey, bbjn, THEY WORK FOR A LIVING, AND THOSE WHO WORK IN MILWAUKEE DO SO BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE SKILLS THAT ARE WANTED IN MILWAUKEE--IT'S NOT LIKE MILWAUKEE IS DOING THEM A FAVOR. Or, would you prefer they do like we see in Detroit, where the inner city is abandoned altogether in favor of greener pastures?

Nothing at all wrong with what these people are proposing, but the manner in which they are going about this is absurd. Throwing a fit, making demands, posturing and coming off like petulant and entitled brats is not the way to go about this. How hard would it have been to ask to be included in the discussion? How hard is it to outline the goals, compare to similar projects and make an honest effort to be a player in the process? Nope, not around here; not in a state that has become nothing more than protests and tantrums. Here, hold a press conference and start attacking. Two men with no connection to Milwaukee just committed $600 million to the betterment of our community, but let's start treating them like ATMs.

I don't see any quotes attached to anything stated above.The author's shock and awe approach to all things this issueis clear to some of us. I'd pump the brakes just a bit relative to what, and how these sortof things were actually framed. When I read, "lets meet to talk" that's good enough for me.The rest is blended bourbon boy doing his writer thing.

If we don't get a Gardner / Velaquez thread soon on justwhat this means from a on-the-floor-hoops-approach tothis sale I'm going get loud.

Somewhere along the way there was some 'Good News" in the Bucks being sold.One will have to venture to another source to read about that; cause it sure aint' happen in this paper>

This deal should be tied to nothing but this deal. They and Kohl already put down $200 million when they could have just moved to one of the NBA-starved cities who will pay for everything up front.

This deal will pour $200 million into Milwaukee before one cent of taxpayer money is spent, but Common Ground isn't satisfied until their pockets are lined--"for the children," no doubt. Right--as if pouring $200 million into Milwaukee won't benefit everyone, including the children.

Incredible. Absolutely incredible. And to think, these people at Common Ground actually get a news story out of their parasitic demands.

I think if the new arena does get built we should demolish BMO, and the US Cell to make way for new uses...we have only so much money to keep repairs up on the existing structures. As far as with the schools that should be separate deal....People should be voting yes or no whether or not we want the Bucks to stay plain and simple...

Gret, we have new owners of the Bucks that just spent $650 million to keep them in Milwaukee as an asset to the entire SE region of the state, and we already have a group of people demanding money from them to support their own cause.

If Common Ground feels so strongly about their cause, let them raise their own money.

"Earlier this month, more than 600 Common Ground members and guests supported a resolution to support public funding for a new arena if a $150 million to $200 million investment in Fair Play was included. If no public support is forthcoming for improved recreational facilities, the group is on record in opposition to public support."